eye-rolling

noun

eye-roll·​ing ˈī-ˌrō-liŋ How to pronounce eye-rolling (audio)
variants or less commonly eye rolling
: the action or gesture of turning the eyes upward as an expression of annoyance, exasperation, disbelief, etc. : the rolling of the eyes
Other news anchors read the news. Wilson instructed you. He gave you the impression he had some things to tell you, and you'd be wise to sit up, pipe down and pay attention. And, if it was one of those stories that piqued his ever-vigilant sense of outrage, there was likely to be eye-rolling, deep sighs, and even some head-shaking at the ridiculousness of it all.C. W. Nevius
We are out for lunch, waiting patiently for our food. We are probably discussing something important … Either way, when the food hits the table, I will shush you, I will move my plate to the part of the restaurant with the most natural light, and I will take a picture. No amount of eye rolling will make me feel remorse. You think I am a monster. You are wrong.Josh Scherer

Examples of eye-rolling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Jenna Ortega steals the show as the eye-rolling eldest daughter in this cheerful, breezy comedy. Danny Horn, EW.com, 20 July 2024 All those years filled with too many losses and irrelevant seasons, so many false starts and eye-rolling moves, provided the perfect context to their smiles. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 1 July 2024 Her deadpan, eye-rolling ennui is perfect for the role of a drunken could-be widow whose innate cynicism has risen to the level of nihilism — not a big jump, given her circumstances. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 26 June 2024 Because no one gets more dire warnings, eye-rolling criticism or conflicting information thrown at them than parents. Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024 But because the movie is anchored by three capable actors, our eye-rolling subsides quickly enough so that the rest of the film can intensify the nerve-jangling consequences of its reversal of fortunes. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024 Showrooms across the globe play host to first dates, birthday parties, epic games, disco naps and an eye-rolling amount of pranks. Mariella Rudi, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2023 In Maya, there’s no trace of an eye-rolling 20-something embarrassed by her dad. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 5 Sep. 2023 Read full article In Act II the roles are reversed and the Woman must coax the now-morose Man to return to one of his famous routines, which Lauria delivers with practiced ease, along with some eye-rolling jokes. Terry Byrne, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eye-rolling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of eye-rolling was in 1837

Dictionary Entries Near eye-rolling

Cite this Entry

“Eye-rolling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eye-rolling. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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